The Floating Gardens Of ‘Bobylon’

TL;DR

Prime Big Deal Days · Oct 6–7Offer from Amazon

Get pool and patio gear delivered free — and shop member deals

• Fast, free delivery on millions of items
• Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
• Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included

Start your free Prime trial →Free trial for eligible customers · Cancel anytime

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.Hide

Amateur Gardening has shared a home-gardening idea called “Bobylon”: floating plant pots or trays in a small water-filled container so roots can draw on stored water. The report presents it as a limited option for selected crops and warns about water levels, plant needs and polystyrene waste.

Amateur Gardening has published a guide to “Bobylon,” a home-scale floating planter idea that places plant pots or seed trays on a raft above stored rainwater. The approach is presented as a way to supply water to selected crops during dry spells, but the article stresses that it is not suitable for most plants and depends on careful control of water contact and container depth.

The report contrasts Bob’s compact setup with floating gardens seen in documentaries: large rafts of timber and bark, topped with soil and mud, that can support a range of crops. Those structures, the article says, may sit 30 to 60 centimetres (1 to 2 feet) above the water. For gardeners without a large pond, it suggests adapting an old bath, sink or similar container as a reservoir, rather than building an allotment-sized raft.

In the proposed version, a piece of expanded polystyrene is cut to fit inside the container, with openings for plant pots so the pot bottoms can reach the water. The float can be weighted or given extra buoyancy to adjust its height. The article also describes stacking polystyrene seed trays, or placing capillary matting between trays, to support shallow-rooted crops such as salad leaves, spinach, Chinese greens and watercress.

Amateur Gardening says a small bath may hold enough rainwater for a modest plant, such as one blueberry, for an extended period, but not necessarily for several thirstier plants without topping up. It also warns that nutrients can leach from the growing medium, so occasional feeding may be needed. These are practical suggestions in a gardening report, not evidence of a tested system with measured water savings or yields.

A Small Reservoir for Dry Spells

The idea addresses a familiar gardening problem described in the report: periods of drought can make watering difficult, while heavy rain and waterlogging can damage plants. A small reservoir beneath a floating pot offers a possible way to keep some growing medium supplied with water when the surface dries. For readers with a spare bath or sink, it is a low-tech reuse of household materials, rather than a claim that floating planters can replace ordinary irrigation across a garden.

Its relevance is limited by the plants and container involved. The article says some plants, including tomatoes, melons, cucumbers and sweet peas, can tolerate being stood in saucers of water under suitable growing conditions. It also notes that cranberries, blackcurrants and blueberries like moist conditions, while emphasizing that even moisture-loving plants need their roots above the waterline. Most plants need air around their roots as well as water, making the setup inappropriate if compost stays saturated.

For small-scale growers, the article’s most practical use case may be starting shallow-rooted greens in trays. It describes floating trays as a way to provide steady access to moisture and keep crops vulnerable to slugs off the ground. Those benefits are presented as gardening advice, not as independently verified outcomes, and the system still requires monitoring.

From Large Rafts to Home Containers

The Amateur Gardening report begins with the contrast between drought and deluge: both can interrupt routine gardening, though in different ways. It draws on the familiar image of floating gardens in hotter regions, where substantial rafts support crops, then scales the concept down for a domestic garden. The “Bobylon” name refers to Bob’s proposed growing idea; the source does not identify a formal project, product or organization behind it.

The article’s central adaptation is to use a container that stores rainwater and a lightweight platform that holds pots near the water surface. That arrangement differs from planting directly in a waterlogged bed. The advice is to let the pot’s base access water while keeping the bulk of the growing medium out of standing water, adjusting buoyancy or adding matting as needed. The report does not provide dimensions, construction testing or a detailed maintenance schedule.

Material choice is another part of the source’s context. Amateur Gardening acknowledges that expanded polystyrene is not environmentally preferable, but suggests reusing seed trays already on hand. It advises removing and safely disposing of broken pieces so they do not reach soil or waterways. The article also cautions against leaving a water butt uncovered, since debris and insect larvae can contaminate stored water.

““After the drought, the deluge inevitably comes.””

— Amateur Gardening report

Limits of the Floating Setup

The source does not report controlled trials, measured water savings, crop yields or how the idea performs across different climates and seasons. It is therefore unclear how long a given container would supply a plant in practice; the report itself says capacity depends on the container and number of plants, and that a small bath may need topping up for thirstier crops.

It is also not clear which potting mixes or plant varieties would work best, or how often gardeners should check nutrient levels and add feed. The article warns that a plant on a float in a deep container could sink below the rim as water is used, then rise high and become exposed to wind when rain refills the container. Water-butt lids, contamination and loose polystyrene fragments are further concerns. The advice is a proposed gardening technique, not a guarantee of performance or a substitute for checking plants regularly.

Monitor Water and Plant Health

The report gives no announced follow-up trial or product launch. For gardeners who try the suggestion, its advice points to practical checks: keep the growing medium from becoming waterlogged, adjust the float so pot bases can reach water, and top up a small reservoir when its capacity is not enough. Plants should be watched for signs that they are too wet, too dry or short of nutrients.

Those reusing polystyrene should remove loose fragments and dispose of them safely, while keeping stored water protected from debris and insect larvae. The source does not offer a measured timetable for maintenance, so performance and upkeep will depend on the container, weather and crops being grown.

Key Questions

What is Bobylon?

Bobylon is the name used in Amateur Gardening’s report for a small floating-planter idea: pots or seed trays rest on a float inside a water-filled container so plants can draw on stored water.

Which plants does the report suggest?

The report mentions tomatoes, melons, cucumbers and sweet peas as plants that may tolerate standing in saucers of water under suitable conditions. It also describes shallow trays for salad leaves, spinach, Chinese greens and watercress. It does not claim that the method suits all plants.

Can plants sit directly in water?

Not generally, according to the article. Most plants need air around their roots, so the aim is to keep the pot’s base in contact with water while leaving most of the soil or compost above the waterline.

What are the main risks?

A container may run short of water, nutrients may leach from the growing medium, and a plant on a float in a deep container may sink or become unstable as water levels change. The report also warns about water contamination and polystyrene fragments reaching soil or waterways.

Source: rss